=== Oakland Athletics Team Report - June 24 === (My Sportsbook) - Mark Mulder tries to continue Oakland's recent dominance over the Texas Rangers this evening when the two teams continue their four- game set at the Ballpark in Arlington. In the series-opener on Monday, Scott Hatteberg doubled home three runs in the top of the ninth inning and Oakland held on to beat Texas, 3-1, and moved within five games of idle Seattle in the AL West. Barry Zito threw six innings of one-run ball for the Athletics, who have won nine of their last 10 games to move a season-high 14 games above .500. Zito allowed just four hits and struck out three with four walks. Oakland has beaten Texas in eight of 10 meetings this season and is 15-2 in the last 17 matchups. Last week, the A's swept a three-game series from the Rangers at the Coliseum. Additionally, Texas' only two victories over the Athletics this year have come by a run. Mulder gets the ball tonight for the A's, as he tries to become the league's second 11-game winner. The 25-year-old lefthander is 10-4 on they year with a 3.26 ERA. With a win tonight he will join Toronto's Roy Halladay atop the AL in wins. Chicago's Esteban Loaiza also has 10 wins and will pitch against the Minnesota Twins tonight. In his last start Mulder allowed two runs on 10 hits over seven innings in a 9-2 win over the Rangers on Thursday, his second victory in as many starts. With the win Mulder became the fastest A's pitcher to reach 10 wins since Bob Welch got his 10th on June 15, 1990. He is 8-4 with a 4.62 ERA in 14 career starts against Texas. The A's snapped a two-game losing streak on the road Monday and are 16-19 outside the Coliseum this season. |
